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DoH cautions against gov’t. partnership with tobacco manufacturers

Written by magnolia_eic on 17 May 2010

THE Department of Health (DOH) strongly urged all government agencies to refrain from establishing partnerships with and accepting donations from tobacco manufacturers as this goes against the country’s commitment to the World Health Organization (WHO)

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral explained that these donations and partnerships are packaged as corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of the tobacco industry”,. She stressed that under Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, such CSR activities which involve the indiscriminate display of the tobacco manufacturer’s name or brand name may constitute a prohibited form of advertising.

She also reminded the public that RA 9211 also bans cigarette and tobacco companies from sponsoring any sport, concert, cultural or art event which will involve advertisements of their products. Despite these restrictions however, Secretary Cabral observed that it had not deterred the tobacco industry from advertising its deadly products, albeit through

alternative methods.

“A stricter implementation of RA 9211’s provisions on advertising and promotions which will plug the loopholes currently being used by the tobacco industry can help save a lot of lives in the future,” Cabral added. (PIA-Bohol)

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